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Mike White's high school sports chat: 08.29.23
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Mike White
11:00
Well, well, well. Look who's back. How goes it, everybody? I held out for a new contract to renew my live high school sports chat. James Harden and myself got together to discuss strategy - and it turned out the P-G offered me a max contract in two figures. So I signed. I'll be here every Tuesday at 11 a.m. with the live high school sports chat. Let's get started.
Wpial Fan
11:00
Although pine lost, the score truly didn’t reflect how that game went…. Not sure if you watched but the rams hung in there for a while, I got them easily taking the WPIAL title this season.
Mike White
11:02
I did not watch any of the Pine vs. Pickerington game. I was at another game. Don't judge Pine on one game. They were crushed by Pickerington last year. Pine will still be good, but if you have them easily taking the 5A title this year ... then let me give you the number for a doctor.
Tom Brady
11:02
Will this PCC team go down as the greatest WPIAL football team of all time?
Mike White
11:05
Pleeeease!!!!!! After one game? Good, Lord. Settle down. Yes, Central is very good. But you know there have been other teams with a handful of Division I players over the years. And some of them didn't even win the WPIAL title. Heck, Aliquippa had five seniors go to Division I colleges from the 1989 team and other D-1 players who were juniors and sophomores. And they didn't win the state title. Central is good. Real good. But let's see how they do before we nominate them for the WPIAL Hall of Fame.
Coach O
11:05
Great to have your chats back Mike. You’re the best. Do you think the gap has narrowed this year in 4A between Aliquippa, Central Valley and the field? I’m thinking of teams like Armstrong,Highlands, Montour. I saw Montour game vs Mars QB Wolfe and skill players very good.
Mike White
11:09
Well, it remains to be seen if Aliquippa will be as dominant this year as last year. No doubt, Quips will still be excellent. Loaded at the skill positions. But they lost those big, beefy linemen. Biggest question is how line will do. Central Valley might not be as strong, but still looking capable of winning a lot. TJ is TJ. Montour opened eyes by beating Mars. You know McKeesport will still be one to watch. So maybe there might be a little more parity in 4A this year, but the same cast of teams will still be strong.
pig in slop
11:09
like the new HS Basketball rule, eliminating 1 -1 ft's?
Mike White
11:10
Ahhhh, I'm kind of indifferent to it. I don't really feel strongly one way or another. It's the same as women's college basketball. And they like it. The rule is no  more 1-and-1s. Teams will shoot two fouls on the fifth foul of EACH QUARTER. Definitely changes things in end of game situations.
Sour Grapes
11:10
Any word if the WPIAL is going to or has looked into the kid that transferred from Highlands to TJ??
Mike White
11:12
No idea. But paperwork must be filed with WPIAL on every transfer. And after examining paperwork and facts, WPIAL can decide on whether a hearing is needed. What most people don't realize is that probably 99 percent of transfers are declared eligible - at least for regular season - just based on paperwork.
pig in slop
11:12
Favorite part of the fall sport season?
Mike White
11:12
That it's just that much closer to basketball season.
Anon
11:12
I see football is back so the chat is back. Must be too busy to do this for spring sports.
Mike White
11:13
Honestly, we tried few years ago a little, and there just doesn't seem to be as much interest in spring sports. Maybe we can re-visit it this spring.
Joe blue
11:13
What are your thoughts on Montour?
Mike White
11:14
Me thinks that was an impressive win against Montour. And I know last year Lou Cerro said he thought his teams could be pretty good next few years because he like his young players.
Jdub
11:14
How do you feel about Seton LaSalle football this year. Showed some promise last week but still came up short
Cutch
11:17
I can see another Cv vs Quip battle at the ‘sure, how about you? Thoughts on the Quips and young Cv team too? Thanks Mike
Mike White
11:17
Talked about Quips and CV above.
Tony B
11:18
Interesting that TJ is doing the 2qb system. Do you think that continues into playoffs ? Has it worked well with other wpial teams in past
Mike White
11:20
Bill Cherpak has said they will use the two QBs - Brody Evans and Luke Kosko - for a while but hope to eventually go with one. Both are good. Kosko sat out last year after transferring from Seton LaSalle but was ruled ineligible by WPIAL. Two QB systems don't always work. But sometimes they do. Bishop Canevin won WPIAL two years ago with two QBs and made it to WPIAL final last year with two. But they moved Jason Cross to receiver this year and are using just Kole Olszewski at QB. I don't know what TJ will do. I think it's a fluid situation.
J biz
11:20
Quick question on hoops (I know it’s football season) What are your thoughts on guys like Parham and Maluk transferring out? Do you think some top guys now or in the future will follow the trend?
Mike White
11:24
OK, here we go. I could write a book on this subject of prep schools and basketball schools. I could say a lot here and will try not to go too long. But I have some definite opinions on this stuff and believe I know a little more about transfers and prep schools and basketball schools than most. Because I'll start out saying that, as some know, I coach 9th grade team at North Hills and help just a little when I can with varsity, mostly just statistical work. But I see the prep school/basketball school scene up close and personal because my son has coached in it for 7 years now at three different places. And yes, he is an assistant at where Royce Parham has transferred to (Western Reserve). More to come on more posts.
11:27
OK just a couple things. Unless Royce was lying, he didn't want to leave North Hills. Who wanted him out? His mother. Here's conversation with Royce and myself two weeks before his mother withdrew him from North Hills. Me: "Are you definitely leaving, and why do you wanna leave all this?" Royce: "No, it's not definite and I don't wanna leave. Why would I wanna leave? I like it here. My friends are here. But it's not up to me." Me: "Well then why don't you stand up and tell your mom what you want?" Royce: "Because it doesn't matter what I want."
11:33
I had a nice relationship with Royce. He's a great kid and has a bright future. He threw away a lot by leaving and for what? He's already committed to Marquette. His mom went on Twitter and said some things yesterday, threw some people under the bus. So I'll say some things. I laugh at these people who say kids need to leave to face more competition. Here's the thing I've noticed about kids going to a prep school or basketball school for a year. They are no more ready for college basketball after a year than they are if they would've stayed at their school. Are prep schools good for some? Yes. But not all. There are a lot of kids who are at regular high schools and still go on to big college and even NBA careers. The player you are when you go to a prep school is still the player you are when you are done after one season at a prep school!!!! The coaches there don't throw magic dust on you and make you a one-and-done player. I've seen numerous incidents of this over the years with players who my son coached.
11:37
Want a couple examples? Michael Lucarotti leaves Erie Cathedral Prep for ISA in Ohio. Leaves a team that won a state championship. Felt he needed more exposure. Again, players are who they are. He gets a scholarship to Youngstown State. Can't get on the court. He's now at Gannon. Josh Irwin from Ohio leaves his high school team. Goes to ISA for one season. Supposedly needs more competition and exposure. Gets scholarship to Youngstown State. Never got on the court. Leaves after two seasons. He's now at a JC.
11:39
Charles Bediatko was starting center on Alabama team this year. His son brought him to dinner at my house. He's from Canada so maybe a prep school would help him. I saw him play games for two years. Then he went to IMG. Then he spent two years at Alabama before coming out and he didn't get drafted. What did those three years at prep school and IMG do for him? He was the same player at Alabama last year as when he was a sophomore in high school. 6-11, a rim runner, can run the floor, block shots and rebounds. Never had an offensive game. Never. He averaged 6 or 8 points at Alabama last year.
11:42
OK enough about this. I've seen up close and personal these things. Bottom line is, yeah maybe prep schools/basketball schools are for some. And yeah, competition can sometimes be good. But that doesn't turn you into a big-time player. It's more up to the player and how hard he works on his own. Plus, the big thing is AAU is where you get the exposure most. Hey, Ben Simmons went to Montverde. Supposedly one of the best. He made it to the NBA because of his size and talent. But what's one thing Ben Simmons couldn't do when he went to Montverde? Shoot. And they didn't teach him there, either.
11:44
And funny about those who say you have to leave WPIAL to get competition and exposure. Meleek Thomas is rated one of top 10 juniors in the country. And he hasn't left WPIAL yet. Maluk rated top 25. And he played two years in WPIAL. Parham got many offers and he played in WPIAL for three years. And T.J. McConnell and Cam Johnson made the NBA after playing four years in WPIAL.
11:46
Last point. Two big-time head coaches told me things this spring about prep schools. I won't name them: 1. "The prep school thing is so overrated for lot of kids but you won't get college coaches saying that." 2. "We never tell a kid to leave his high school and go to a prep school because a lot of times, things don't work out and they're not happy. Then they come back to us and say, 'Why did you tell me to leave?"
11:47
OK enough of my rant. But it makes you appreciate guys like Ethan Morton who cared about playing with their bodies, cared about their community, winning possible state championships. And he was recruited by many big-time schools.
Jdub
11:47
How do you feel about Seton LaSalle football this year. Showed some promise in week 0 but still came up short. Any thoughts?
Mike White
11:48
Well they were 0-10 last year and lost to a Class 1A school (Cornell). Seton might be better. But how much?
More Sour Grapes
11:48
Thoughts on Royce, Alier and Dame transfering out of the WPIAL and will the Thomas kid from Lincoln park be next??
Mike White
11:48
Read above posts.
3 rivers
11:49
As far as I am concerned Imani is the Wpial version of Bishop Sycamore.  I'm glad those kids transferred out.  Did the transfers have anything to do with them firing their coach?  Sketchy program all around.
Mike White
11:49
You said it. Not me.
Winny
11:49
Have you heard any progress on the initiative to bring in youth officials and the new program started by WPIAL?
Mike White
11:51
Yes, PIAA has a junior program where kids, ages 16 and older I believe, can be licensed official and work with mentors. Junior officials can work junior-high and youth games. Great idea because we need to get more of them. I coach 9th grade and I know one Oakland Catholic player - London Creech - was involved in program, officiating summer league 9th grade games this summer. Was nice to see. She will be a college player, too.
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